Device for constructing tunnels under water.



I. T.- M0OOMAS..

P TE T-ED MAR. 2 ,1907. v

'DEVICE FOR GONSTRUOTING TUNNELS UNDER WATER.

miin' Q III APPLIOATION FILED DEC- 14. 1906.

(June-Mom ISAAC T. MCCOMAS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

DEVICE FQR CONSTRUCTENG TUNNELS UNDER WATER.

Specification of Letters Extent.

?a,tented March 26, 1907.

Application filed December 14, 1906. Serial No. 347,764.

T0 (0U whont 7'15 'IIL/(LLI/ con/earn:

Be it known that I, lsAAo T. MoQoMi xs, a

hook portion 7 within the cylinder. washer O citizen of the United States, residing at Bali tiinore city. and Stete of Maryland, halve invented ceroin new and useful .lirproveir ents in Devices for Constructing Tunnels Under -Waiter, of which the following is ilspeciics- SUItiLEllC pecking may be used between the tion.

My invention relates to an improventent in a. device for constructing tunnels and the I like; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the method as invented by nae, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it aippertziins to make and use the 8&1116.

of construction and combinations of parts, which will he hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is at perspective view of a cylinder surrounded by the diking at the starting-point of the building of the tunnel. Fig. 2 is e perspec- 've view of c cylinder-section cut away to show the hooks secured therein. Fig. 3 is e perspective view of the track, showing the first cylinder being drawn thereon by 111651115 of the cable. Fig. 4 is e perspective view of the hook. Fig. 5 is on end "iew of the cylinder, showing the reinforced lining and the concrete trend my.

Like letters and numbers indicate like;

parts in the several views.

able thickness and size and icnteriel. B represents it head secured within the end of some by means of the rivets 1; C, at diking, such as is ordincrily used in the construction of sewers, tunnels, and the like, and is too well known to those skilled in the art to denntnd of further description here.

D is e hook, being threaded on its end portion at 2, on which is screwed the washers 3 end Drilled through the threaded end portion is an opening 5.

The hook D is adopted 1 The is then screwed on the threaded end portion of the hook D flush against the heed B, thereby forcing the inner washer lush against the head on the interior, thus making an air or water tight joint for the purpose to be hereinafter explained. A

washers and the head if necessary to insure the tightness of the jointure.

E is a track made of iron and is built in sections.

8 are ties between the rails 10 and 11.

F represents ii ditch or trench dug out of the bed of a stream under which it is desired My invention consists of novel features to tunnel.

12 indicates e brick reinforcement within the tunnel formed by the cylinders A, and 13 indicates concrete treedwey, and 14 indicates e csble.

A tunnel by the use of my appliances is constructed as follows; A trench is dug in the shore or bank of a stream under which it is desired to construct a tunnel to a depth equal to the deepest depth of the stream. The trench is (liked, as shown in Fig. 1. A section of the cylinder with the head secured thereon and wi h the hook or any other suit able atteclnnent secured therein, as described, which is also shown in Fig. 1, is then lowered into the trench. By the use of a. dredging or other suitable machine the trench F is dug and extended across the stream to the oppo A represents a cylinder made 01' any suitin the bottom of the trench.

, reached, where a suitable terminus is conto be secured in the cylinder-heed B by reg.- I son of the head being provided with an opening 6 therein, through which the hook D or any other suitable ;.ttnchii:ent is inserted 1 with the hook portion 7 within the cylinder. The washer 4 is first screwed on the threaded portion of the hook D, the book then .in-

and, as has already been stated, with the structed, the aggregate of the sections forming the tunnel. The head B is then removed, and the cylinder or tunnel so formed may be reinforced by being arched with brick or other suitable material and it treadwey 13, made, preferably, of concrete, built therein. To relieve the strain on the head of the first section, :is it would necessarily increase as each section is added, a series of hooks 1.5 are used to engage with the hooked portion 7 of the hook D, as shown in Fig. 2, the free end of the hook 15 being secured to the opposite end of the cylinder (not shown) in any suitable manner, forming as if it were an endless chain, thereby relieving the strain to a great extent on the head of the first cylinder and distributing the strain throughout the length of the cylinders as they are progressively added, thereby forming the tunnel.

Slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence 1 do not desire to limit myself to the exact construction as herein set forth; but,

Having described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a device for constructing tunnels under Water the combination With a cylinder-sec tion provided With a water-tight head secured on one end thereof, of a threaded hook, secured Within the head, With a portion of the said hook extending Without the said head, a hook secured to the end of the said hook Within the cylinder, a trench, a track Within the trench, a cable secured to the hook portion extended Without the said head, where by the cylinder-sections are drawn along the said track, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ISAAC T. MOCOMAS. l/Vitnesses E. WALTON BREWINGTON, HOWARD D. ADAMS. 

